“Mercenaries are the same everywhere.” Kingsley’s hands stayed at his sides, but he somehow gave the illusion of flaring them wide, bracing for a fight. “His people were nothing. Those mercenaries will be our real adversaries.”
“His people can be used to create chaos.” Austin squared off with his brother, and I realized there was something behind the scenes here that I didn’t understand. “Sheer numbers can dominate in something like this, and he’ll have those numbers, I can feel it. They’re going to try to trap us.”
“Let them,” Sebastian said, stepping toward us. Austin and his brother shot him fearsome looks, and he grimaced. “No one else can hear you, just me. Jess’s spells are really coming along, but she hasn’t fixed this one. It’s pretty easy to circumvent. If I may…” He sidled closer, hunched a little and with his hands up—a defensive posture—and I expanded the bubble to include him. “They’re trying to trap you. Let them. We have two powerful mages and the most fearsome alpha in the world, whose rage is tethered by a deteriorating leash. That’s all we need to win.”
“Two of the most fearsome alphas,” Kingsley growled.
“You have a family at home, Kingsley Barazza,” Austin replied, his eyes hard. “This isn’t your fight. You’ve been an incredible help to me, but my little niece needs a father. I nearly took you from her once. I will not do it again.”
“Your little niece isn’t so little anymore, and she would scold me if I walked away from Uncle Auzzie at a time like this.” Kingsley leaned in a little, and my small hairs stood on end. “We’re brothers. I’ve got your back, no matter what. I’m in this.”
They stared at each other for a tense moment. Sebastian scooted away again, hunching even more now.
As though a bubble burst, both men breathed out and their postures relaxed. Austin held out his hand, and Kingsley grabbed it, pulling him into a bro hug.
“Don’t think I won’t call you if someone tries to steamroll my pack,” Kingsley told Austin.
“I’d expect nothing less.”
They stepped back, and I popped the bubble of silence, making a mental note to ask Sebastian how to make a better one.
“Now that that’s settled, whatever it was”—Mr. Tom walked over with a silver tray laden with champagne—“care for another drink, anyone?”
“Do you have any beer?” Kingsley asked.
“At a garden party?” Mr. Tom put up his nose and pushed the tray forward. “I most certainly do not.”
Kingsley took the champagne, staring Mr. Tom down all the while.
“Go ahead, do your worst,” Mr. Tom responded. “I’m used to it.”
Austin turned to Sebastian. “You said two powerful mages. Do you plan to do more than lurk this time?”
Sebastian gave a humorless grin. “I most certainly do. And I can’t wait to see their faces when I let the magic fly.”
I’d accepted the invitation shortly after receiving it, and now, two days later, we were preparing to walk into the belly of the beast.
Austin sat at the table by my bedroom window, waiting for me to finish getting ready. He had on jeans and a T-shirt (we’d decided there was no point in being uncomfortable for what was surely going to be a battle). His people were assembled and ready, along with Kingsley and his people, all waiting at the base of the mountain in animal form. They would scale the mountain with Edgar, and Austin, Sebastian, and I would drive up. The basajaun, who’d offered to help because he’d overindulged in flowers at the forced garden party (Niamh maintained that he’d done it on purpose because he wanted to come all along), would ride with us. Sebastian was the one who’d made the suggestion about the ride-along—he wanted to see the mages’ face when they caught sight of our fearsome friend. Given the basajaun’s great love was causing horrible surprises, he’d been tickled by the idea. The rest of my people would fly in as we drove, swooping down when the action started.
Speaking of my team…
“I want to give Cyra, Hollace, and Nathanial more time,” I called to Austin, “because I haven’t gotten to properly interact with them, but it seems like the right time to ask Sebastian to join the team. What do you think?”
“I’d say it’s a good bet. He’s done nothing but help you, and he gets along with everyone.”
I nodded. “Good. I mean, we’ll see how he does with the…possibly very awkward and embarrassing dinner and dancing coming up.”
“Fat chance.”
“We’ll see how he does in the battle, then.”
“I think the team is shaping up to be really strong, babe,” he said, standing when I exited the bathroom.
I walked into his arms, needing a moment to lean on him, to soak in his strength. It still felt surreal that we were together, that someone as hot as him was calling me babe. The most desirable bachelor in the area, for Janes and magical people alike, had said he’d wait for me to come around and be his mate.